Pictures from May (and a bit of June) - "Graduation" and Guest Speakers

Tera van Twillert of Pearl Family Garden addresses Finding Grace community group.

Youth Ministry “Graduation” (End-of-School-Year) Banquet

Dr. Diane Poythress addresses Finding Grace community group.

Dr. Vern Poythress addresses a general audience on the Book of Revelation.

Noteworthy Events

“Ascension” by J. Kirk Richards

• New Community Group: We are excited to announce the arrival of a new FPC community group! Fabulous Females of Friendship 2.0 is a gathering of middle-aged ladies who seek eternal fulfillment in Christ via Bible study, intercessions, laughs, tears, and spiritual support from one another. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month, 7:00-9:00pm, in room 001 of the church building. Click here for more information.

• Youth Group Weekly Gatherings - Fridays, 6:30-9:30pm: Our youth ministry provides a time of worship, Bible study, fellowship, and fun. We meet every Friday, 6:30-9:30pm, at 261 Roosevelt Road, 6th floor.

• New FPC Line News Group: We have a new FPC LINE news group where you can get all the latest information about FPC. You will not receive a bunch of messages from other people, only from FPC. You can also send prayer requests which will be received by the church leaders. To join, search for "@osv3181q" or scan this QR code.

• Monthly Prayer Group – Tuesday, May 14th, 7:30pm: FPC’s monthly prayer group, “The Engine Room,” meets regularly on the second Tuesday of each month. Accordingly, the May meeting will be held Tuesday, May 14th. Come join us for an evening of Kingdom-centered prayer. We gather at 7:30pm on the 4th floor of the church building and go into prayer from 7:45 to 9:00. All are welcome.

• Newcomers Welcome Lunch, May 19th, 1:15 – 2:45pm: If you or someone you know is new to FPC in the last two months, come join us for food and fellowship. It is a time to meet others who are new to the church and helps us get you connected to the life of the church. Pastor Kim himself will be there, and lunch is on us. You can register at the Newcomer Welcome table in the fellowship hall, or simply meet up with us on the 19th in Room 402 of the church building at 1:15pm.

• Finding Grace Group – Guest Speaker, May 26th, 2:00 – 4:00pm: Finding Grace will be hosting a guest-speaker, Dutch missionary Tera van Twillert. Tera works with OMF (Overseas Missionary Fellowship) and came to Taiwan in 1988. She served in a homeless ministry church-plant for 14 years and then, in 2006, started the Pearl Family Garden, a ministry to women in the sex industry in Taipei. All are welcome to attend. (Note--for this meeting only, the group will meet in room 802 in the 261 Roosevelt Road building).

• Spotlight on Service: Did you know that each Sunday Church Service at FPC takes an average of 28 individual acts of service? We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 69 individuals who served FPC in April. If you would like to join our team of volunteers, please email deacons@friendshiptaipei.com.

• Vern Poythress Visit – June 2 – 9: Renowned evangelical scholar Dr. Vern Poythress and his wife, Dr. Diane Poythress, will return to Taiwan in early June. Vern will deliver the Sunday message on June 2nd and 9th and will host a lunchtime “table talk” on the 9th at 1:30pm on the subject of theophany (the visible appearance of God to people). Vern will also speak on the Book of Revelation at a special combined meeting of the Friday night T.G.I.F. community group and the weekly youth ministry group on the evening of Friday, June 7th, at 7:30pm, on the 6th floor of 261 Roosevelt Road. All are welcome.

Michelle Ko: Tanzania Update

Greetings from HOT AND HUMID Tanzania!

Life in Mtwara 

For the last two months it has been, and still is, very challenging. Living conditions in Tanzania are much tougher than Kenya and it has really stretched me mentally and physically. With the daily extreme heat, I sweat all day and night! I shower with ice cubes and sleep with wet towels to cool me down. My house temperature is around 34C/93.3F daily. The electricity does not come on regularly, and is often blocked out. I also have a lot of God's wonderful creatures called "bugs" hanging around me all day long!! :-)

I have to change the way I do things around here according to the weather. I need to slow down and take breaks in such an environment or it will be much easier to suffer from exhaustion and tiredness with this extreme temperature.

One morning, while I was riding my bicycle on very bumpy road (most of the roads are bumpy and muddy when it rains), I was carrying some soup in a container sealed with plastic, or so I thought. It spilled and somehow some of it got onto the phone which was next to it. Now my phone is not working and cannot be fixed in Tanzania. I am using an old phone with a dying battery and I pray the battery will last ‘till God provides a solution.

Life in Mtwara is tough and you could easily get malaria. I am starting to understand why there are very few missionaries over years in this area (presently, I know we have 4 missionaries, 3 from SIM). By the grace of God, I am able to cope with these difficulties day by day. In the midst of challenges I surrender all to Jesus who loves and saved me, so I can be the vessel for Him.

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Praises and Prayers

• Thank God for a refreshing and encouraging retreat in Dar es Salaam with other SIM Tanzania missionaries.

• Thank God for His protection traveling around by bike and long road trips back and forth to Dar.

• Thank God for a good rainy season in April and cooler weather in May

• Pray I am committed to study and to speak Swahili diligently.

• Pray for God’s provision for a car. It is tough to ride a bike under such extreme heat.

Tanzania SIM Team

Thank you for your prayers, encouragements, and financial support and I am asking you to continue to journey with me in mission.

In His time,

Michelle Ko

FB: MichelleKoInAfrica What’s App: +255 628 039 983(new) Line ID: 61 488 029 218